Humidifying-fan.



W. M. MCEWEN.

HUMIDIFYING FAN. APPUCAHUN man MAR.14.19|1.

WILLABD I. MoEWEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HUMIDIFYING-FAN.

Specilcation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application :Illed latch 14, 1917. Serial No. 154,700.

T o all rwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLARD M. MCEWEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHumidifying-Fans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air treating means adapted for use whereverair purifying and conditioning is desirable as for instance in livingrooms, otliees, assembly halls and restaurants. and it relatesparticularly to portable outfits adapted for setting up readily and formoving bodily from one location'to another.

The main objects of the invention are to provide air washing andhumidifying means of improved form adapted to purify and moisten the airand to so deliver the same back to the room as to avoid throwing any wetmist or liquid particles on the objects and persons in the room; toprovide for delivering' superimposed layers or drafts of air in suchmanner that a moisture-laden current overlies a current of relativelydry air: to provide an improved form of construction and arrangement ofcomponent parts in a device of the character described adapted for readyassembly and knock-down and also convenient of access for cleaning andrepairs; and to provide a device of the general character stated adaptedfor use either in connection with a source of water under pressure orindependently of any such source.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of the device,and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary hub and shaft cross section on the line A-A ofFig. 1.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the device as a whole comprisesa hollow casing or frame 1 disposed uprightly and provided with an airpassa 2 extending upward centrally through t e casing, a pair of fans 3and 4 positioned in said passage one above the other in s ace-drelation. and means 5 for driving sai fans. said casing being aperturednear the bottom as at 6 for admitting air from the room. and near thetop and intermediately for discharging air to the room as at T and 8respectively, the upper of said fans being located between the middleand uppermost apertures, said casing having anV inwardly projectingguide 9 between the middle aperture 8 and the upper fan 3, and means 10for discharging spray into the passage above said guide.

The upwardly moving air current is divided by the guide 9 which isinclined upwardly from its inner edge, and the outer part of the currentis diverted beneath said guide and is driven outward at the medialapertures 8 by the lower fan 4. The inner part of the ascending currentis drawn up centrally past said guide 9 by the upper fan 3, and havingbeen washed and humiditied by the spray 1l, is discharged at 7. Bothapertures 7 and 8 are nozzle-like in character and are inclined somewhat(preferably about 45 degrees) so as to discharge the two currents orlayers of air one above the other with the moist layer overlying orsubstantially superimposed ou the relatively dry layer. The apertures 7and 8 are disposed peripherally of the casing so that when the latter iscylindrical (as illustrated in Fig. 1) the air currents thrown into theroom are approximately of inverted bell shape.' The intake apertures 6also are disposed peripherally= and the total intake area is somewhatgreater than the combined discharge area.

The said casing or mounting member 1 as a whole comprises a unit-arybase part 12, and a composite upper part seated thereon including achambered body part 13 and a. peripheral detacliably connected supportmember 1l disposed downwardly from the body member to bear upon the base12.

The said part 12 is formed as an-open topped liquid-tight receptaclewith rigid walls and 1s adapted to serve as a reservoir for water, andalso as a support for said upper part. The air is admitted to the devicethrough the walls of said base 1'2. the inlet ports 6 being distributeduniformly in a row medially of the water line and the top edge. Saidports are tall and narrow and are elliptical` so as to provide a largert area without weakening the walls undilly, and are spaced somewhatfrom the top, so as to-clear the downward guide part 14' of said supportmember l-l.

The annular support 14 is formed to nest in the top of the base 12. It.includes the annular body part 1i having a. downwardly facing outwardlyprojecting shoulder or flange at its upper edge to seat on the edge 16of the base 12, and has upstanding arms 17 distributed at intervalsaround its upper edge to support the chambered part 13. The part 14extends convexly inwardly, upward and outward, and constitutes the outerwall or guide leading upward to the lower discharge nozzle 8.

The casing member 13, wherein the air is conditioned or treated,comprises besides its main wall part the above-mentioned bottom memberor guide plate 9, which is provided with upright flange means 9 whereonis attached demountably the main casing roper 13 of the device, saidflange 18 being ormed to overlap the, flange 13', and being secured byscrews 18. The tips of the arms 17 overlie the flange 9 and are securedthereto by screws 19. Said arms'17 clear the screws 18, so that eitherset of fastenings 18 and 19 may be operated independently of the other.The inner edge of said plate 9 is turned upward at 20 so as to form astop for the surplus water discharged into the spray chamber, and whichcollects at 20', the flange 20 being provided with discharge means 21preferably in the form of a tube set in a suitable aperture and leadinginward for discharging the water centrally as will be explained.

The main wall of the casing part 13 is curved diagonally inward orconverged somewhat near the top as at 22 and the upper extremity isturned outward or flared to constitute the lower side or lip 23 of theup er discharge nozzle.

e upper end or top of the chamber contained in casing 13 is closedmainly by a removable cover 24 which is substantiall conoidal in shapewith the upwardly d1- vergent edges 25 arranged to constitute the upperwall or lip of the said upper nozzle 7. Sald cover is adjustable forvarying the size of the nozzle aperture 7, as will be explained.

Mounting means are attached rigidly in the to part of the device forsaid cover and for t e motor, said means comprising a cylindrical hollowmotor housing 26 held uprightly by brackets 27 attached to the casingmember 13. Said brackets are preferably attached to the under side ofthe inwardly converging wall part as at 28, and are held b any suitablemeans as rivets secured -il'tz` tile upturned ends or feet 29. The innerends of said brackets are turned downwardly and secured by suitablemeans as rivets 30 to said housing member 26.- The downwardly projectingends 31 of said brackets are extended somewhat for suporting the baillemember 32 which will be described. f

The said part 26 has two main functions namely, to house the motor 5,and to rovide means for adjustably supporting t e said .i nozzle member25. With this latter end in Lacasse view the said cover 24 is providedwith a downward cylindrical flange 33 slidably embracin the cylinder 26,an upstanding lug 34 being provided on said cover and also fittingslidably against said cylinder. Said lug is provided with a set-screw 35whereby the vertical adjustment of the cover 24 may be set as desired,and thereby the size of the nozzle aperture 7 determined.

In order that the motor 5 may be thoroughl protected from moisture anddust. it is inclosed in a tight cylindrical casing 36 formed and adaptedto lit slidably and demountably in said mounting 26. Said casing 36 isprovided with a tight litting cap 37.

A suitable insulator 38 is provided in one side of said casin throughwhich an electrical circuit may is extended to the motor, said insulatorbeing in the form of a socket adapted to receive a plug 39 having anelectric cord 40 attached thereto, as understood in the art. Said plugmay to advantage be provided with a switch as indicated by the handle41. The upper end of the housing 26 is provided with a vertical slot42to accommodate the above-mentioned insulator 0r socket 38.

An automatic lock or fastener is provided y for said motor casing 36,said lock preferably being in the form of a spring latch member adaptedto yield automatically when the casing is thrust downward into themounting 26 and to lockingly engage the notch 4 3 in the housing 26 toprevent withdrawal until manual pressure is applied to the spring 44,whereon is fixed the latch or beveled member 45, said spring beinaccessible only by removing the cover 31. gIhe easing 36 is apertured at46 in registry with the notch 43 to accommodate the latch part 45.

The spray producing means and means for supplying the water include thesaid nozzle member 1() which is preferably of annular shape concentricwith the main axis of the device and provided with outwardly facing 110apertures for the spray, a tubular connection 47 on one side of thenozzle member, a pump 48 of the rotary type mounted preferably in thelowermost part of the device, said tubular connection communicatingtherewith.

The pump 48 is carried by lugs or bracketlike means 49 depending fromthe downwardly projecting guidewa1l of the 'member 14, being fastenedthereto b v suitable means as rivets 50. The pump is attached to the 12olugs 49 preferably by screws 51. Said pump may be more or less submergedand is provided with intake means 52 extending adjacent to the bottom ofthe reservoir 12 in order te reach the water when the supply is 125nearly exhausted. Said pump is driven b v the motor 5 and is directconnected thereto by the shaft 53.

Said shaft 53 also drives the fans 3 and 4 which are mounted thereon. Inorder to fa- 130 cilitate taking the device apart the shaft is made insections 54, 55 and56 and the fans are provided with hollow hubs Y57 and58 adapted to receive the corresponding shaft ends. The top section 56is an extension of the motor shaft, and at its lower end fits in aco-rotary socket formed in the hub 57 of the upper fan member, whichsocket may be either square or hexagonal or otherwise formed if desiredin any such manner as to insure co-turning of the shaft/and hub. Thelower side of the hub is provided with a set screw 59 whereby the medialshaft section 55 is fastened co-turnably to said hub. The lower end ofthe medial section 55 is fitted demountably in the lower fan hub 58 bysocket connection, substantially as above described. The lowermost shaftsection 54 is attached to the lower hub 58 by a set-screw 60 in themanner above mentioned. The lower end of the said lowest section isfitted to the pump 48 by a socket connection such as above described, orthe shaft may be an extension of the pump shaft. The socket connectionsabove mentioned are adapted to facilitate ready assembling anddemounting the several parts of the apparatus either wholly or in part,as may be required for cleaning, repairs, or other purposes.`

Separating means are provided to prevent particles of water from beingcarried or thrown from the device into the room. For this purposebailleV means are provided in the path of the humidiied air, said meansincluding the plates 61, 32 and 62 dis osed alternately on the outer andinner si es of the air path, plates 61 and 62 being fixed to the innerside of casing 13 and plate 32 being held by the bracket extensions 31.The said bellies are frusto-conoidal in shape and are disposed withtheir free edges projecting diagonally upward into the path of the alrcurrent. Said bales are apertured as at 63 and 64 adjacent to theirlower ed es to drain away the water. Additional ba es 65 of a narrowform are provided on the casing 13 near the point 22 just below thenozzle 7. These also are apertured as at 66 to facilitate drainage.

In order 'to prevent any of the water dis-` charged from tube 21 andfalling on the arms 67 of the lower fan from being carried outwardthereon and thrown into the lower air current, a stop member, 68 isprovided on each arm, where it is spaced somewhat from the hub 58; Thetube 21 projects inward far enough to discharge the waterinward of thestops 68. A

The fans are each provided with inclined blades adapted to exert alifting force. The lower fan also acts centrifugally on the air, givingit an inclined upward and outward thrust. In order that the innercurrent may ybe substantially unailected by the lower fan,

the blades of the latter are short and the arms 67 are relatively longas compared with the upper fan.

The spray generator or nozzle ring 10 is provided with a plate 69 fixedthereto, said plate having a central aperture for the shaft member 55.Said plate centers the ring 10 and also prevents any leakage of airthrough the nozzle ring instead of passing through the spray, which ispreferably thrown outward only.

YVhen assembled the device may be taken apart as follows: The maincasing part, 13 carrying the motor may be removed by taking out thescrews 18 at the lower edge, whereupon the casing and motor may belifted and removed as a unit, the shaft 56 leaving the hub 57, and thepipe 47, having first been uncoupled opposite the adjacent air intakeopenmg 6 by unsere-wing the union 47. Access may then be had to theupper fan 3 which may also be removed by lifting it out of the rim frameas permitted by the socket connection at the lower end of the shaftsection 55. If it is desired to remove the lower fan, it is firstnecessary to remove the screws 19 which secure the middle support andguide member 14, whereupon said guide member may be removed. The lowerfan may then be lifted out of its position as permitted by the socketconneet-ion at the lower end of the bottom shaft section 54. Readyaccess may then be had to the pump, either in its position in the basemember or reservoir 12, or the su porting frame 14-49) therefor may e100 lifted out. Said pump, so far as access to it alone is concerned,being carried by the downwardly projectirtihg lugs 49, may ordinarily begotten at su ciently by merely removing the device as a whole from thereser- 105 voir without taking the several members apart as abovedescribed.

In order to a'ssemble the device the mounting frame 14, with the pump 48thereon, is first hung on the reservoir frame or base 110 member 12. Thelower fan 4 is then assembled thereon, after which the middle guideplate is attached by its mounting screws 19. The upper fan 3 is thenplaced in position, and finally the main caslng 13 and motor 115 member5 are added and secured by the screws 18. The motor 5 may be removedfrom the casinlg 26 by removing the cap 37 and releasing the latcht14m-45, whereupon the motor container 36 may be slid out tele- 120sctically from the housing 26 wherein it is he The operation of thedevice is as follows:

' The motor is started by turning on the the perforated ring in the formof a fine spray, the fans at the same time driving the air forciblupward through the lower and upper disc arge apertures respectively. Theseveral baille means serve to remove all particles or drops of waterwhich have not been vaporized and the air is delivered at the upperdischarge aperture in a thoroughly humidified state but free from anyspray such as might fall as liquid if discharged into the room. All themoisture 6r spray which is not taken up by the air strikes the walls orbailes and drains down into the saucer- Shaped middle guide plate 9,from whence it is carried inward adjacent to the drive shaft 53.rom'whence it flows by gravity back into the reservoir. The lips of bothair nozzles are preferably divergent somewhat near their edges. Anyoccasional line particles of mist escaping in liquid form with the upperair current are caught by the lower current and evaporated immediately.

Although the device is designed primarily for use where there is iiowater supply u`nder constant pressure and the reservoir has to bereplenished from time to time, still the device is adapted for use inconnection with a city water main in which there is sufcient pressure to'produce the required spray. In case such pressure is available the capat the upper end of the supply pipe branch 71 may be removed and thepipe connected directly to the source of water pressure. A waste pipe 72may be rovided to carry away the Surplus water w ich collects in thereservoir when an outside source is used. A faucet 73 may be rovided toadvantage in the lower part o the tank and the waste pipe 72 connectedthereto.

The casing arts 12 and 13 as well as some of the es 61, 32 and 62, thesupport member 14 and the adjustable top piece 24, are all ada ted forstamping or spinning from suitab e sheet metal.

Although butl one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shownand described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:-

1.. A device of the character described, havin an air passage, andcomprising a casmg sposed uprightly and containing a pair of fanspositioned one above the other in spaced relation 1n said assage, andmeans for driving said fans, sai casing being apertured near the bottomfor admitting air from the room and near the top and mter mediatelyfordischarging air to the room,

one of said fans being located between the medial and lowermostapertures and the other between the medial and uppermost apertures, Saidhaving an inwardly projecting guide between the medial aperture and theupper fan, and means for discharging spray into the passage above saidgui e.

2. A device of the character described formed and adapted for receivingair in its lower part, and having a pair of vertically spaced dischargeapertures in its upper part, means for urging the air from the lowerpart upward and outward through said apertures, and air washing andhumidifying means disposed between said discharge apertures, whereby alayer of moist air is discharged above a layer of relatively dry air.

3. A device of the character described formed and adapted for receivingair in its lower part, and having a pair of vertically spaced dischargeapertures in its upper part, means for urging the air from the lowerpart upward and outward through said apertures respectively, convergentguide means leading to said discharge apertures respectively, and airwashing and humidifying means disposed between said discharge apertures,whereby a layer of moist air is discharged above a. layer of relativelydry air, the one layer being substantially superimposed upon the other.

4. In a device of the character described;

a casing or frame member formed and adapted to hold water in its lowerpart, means for propelling air upward through the casing, means fordividing the upwardly moving current and discharging same in a plurahtyof separate layers one above another, said means for propelling aircomprising fans disposed coaxially for the separate current branchesrespectively, means for sprayingl water into one of said branches, andmeans for delivering to the said lower part of the device the water nottaken up and carried away by the air current.

\ 5. A device of the character described comprising a verticallydisposed casing of substantially cylindrical shape. havin a guide ordeector disposed medially o its height, and projecting inwardly, saidguide being inclined downwardly toward the center and terminating in anupwardly turned ange, means for propelling air upward through saidcentrally past said sa. guide, means for arging spravinto the L aircurrent above said guide, and means for conducting the water collectedby said guide back of said flange inwardly and down-A respondingaperture. and another fan arranged to urge the upper current of airoutward through its aperture. means for dischargingI spray into theupper current. lneans above the lower current for collecting the sprayand water not absorbed bv the upper current, and liquid conducting meansextending inward from the spray collecting means and terminatingadjacent to the axis of the fan members. the lower fan member havingfluid stops on its arms spaced outward somewhat from the axis wherebythe liquid discharged downward from the collecting member is preventedfrom being thrown out centrifugally by the lower fan.

7. In a device of the character described, a combined guide and framemember comprising a. body part of annular shape including outwardlyturned and divergently inclined flanges, the upper of which projectssomewhat over and beyond the lower for restin on a corresponding annularsupport.

8. a. device of the character described, a combined guide and framemember comprising a. body part of annular shape including outwardlyturned and divergently inclined flanges, the upper of which projectssomewhat over and bevond the lower for resting on a correspondingannular support, said upper flange having upstanding arms or bracketsspaced apart peripherallv and adapted to serve as supports as foranother frame memner.

9. In a. device of the character described, a combined guide and framemember comprising a body art of annular shape in'- cluding outwardturned and divergent-ly inclined flanges, the upper of which projectssomewhat over and beyond the lower for resting on a correspondingannular support, said lower flange being provided with a downwardlyprojecting bracket or support substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a knockdownsectional frame or casing including an annular support member having adownwardly facing shoulder adapted to rest demountably and unattached ona correspondingly formed support, in combination with a hollow memberadapted to serve as a humidifying chamber, said latter member includinga separable bottom part having an upwardly turned outer part or flangesecured demountably at its upper edge to the complementary lower part othe body of said hollow member, and said support member havingupstanding 1u or arms secured detachably to and exterior y of saidbottom part adjacent to but below the firstmentioned fastening.

11.. In a device o the character described, a knockdown membercomprising a plurality of co-rotary parts disposed in vertical axialalinement, said parts being formed at mutually contiguous axial pointsto register and nest together vertically in non-turning relation to eachother.

12. In a device of the character described, a knockdown membercomprising a plurality of co-rotary parts disposed in vertical axialalinement, said parts being formed at mutually contiguous axial pointsto register and nest together vertically in non-turning relation to eachother, said parts including a motor and a pump spaced apart. the formerabove the latter, and air propelling means disposed betwen said motorand pump.

13. A device of the character described comprising a shell or casinghaving an air passage extending upward therethrough and being adapted tohold water in its lower part, a motor carried by said casing, avertically disposed power shaft connected to said motor, a rotary pumpconnected to said shaft, air propelling means driven by said shaft, anozzle or spray discharge member arranged to project spray or finestreams of water into said air passage, water intake means extendingfrom the lower part of said casing to said pump, means extending fromsaid pump to the spray nozzle for supplying the latter with water, andmeans for returning that part of the water discharged from said nozzlewhich is not vaporized and carried away by the air.

14. In a device of the character described. an upright casing or frameincluding a lower or supporting part and an upper part carrieddetachably by said lower part, a pump carried by said lower part, sprayproducing means carried by said ripper part, and piping connecting saidpump and said spray producing means, said piping including a detachableunion or connection.

15. In a device of the character described, an upright casing or frame,including a lower or supporting part and an upper part carrieddetachably by said lower part, a pump carried by said lower part, sprayproducing means carried by said upper part, and piping connecting saidpum and said spray pro ucing means, said piping including a. detachableunion or connection, and said casing having an air inlet openingopposite said union, whereby the latter is accessible for disconnection.

16. ln an air treating device of the character described, a casing ofannular shape, a motor" mounted concentrically in said casing, bracketsdisposed radially and connected to said casing for supporting saidmotor, a mounting member attached to said brackets, said motor having aframe formed and adapted for sliding longitudinally into and out of saidmounting member, a manually operable yielding fastening or latch adaptedto lock the motor in lace, and means operably connected to said motorfor propelling and treating the air.

17. In an air agitating and purifying device of the character described,a stationary casing member having a (livel-gently inclined or flaringtop flange, a motor disposed centrally in said casing. means extendinginward from said casing to support said motor, an upright mountingmelnber carried by said supporting means whereon the motor isdemountably secured. and a movable casing member spaced above saidflange and slidably connected to said mounting member for verticaladjustment to "ary its spacing with respect to said stationary casingmember.

18. In an air agitating and purifying device of the character described,a stationary casing member having a divergently inclined or flaring topiiange, a motor disposed centrally in said casing. means extending inward from said casing to support said motor, an upright mounting membercarried by said supporting means whereon the motor is demountablysecured. and a movable casing member spaced above said iiange andslidably connected to said mounting member for vertical adjustment tovary its spacing with respect to said stationary casing member` saidmotor having a plug connection on one side, and said mounting memberhaving an upwardly opening slot or aperture to receive or accommodatesaid plug connection when the motor is set in place.

In an air agitating and purifying device of the character described, astationary casing member having a. divergently inclined or flaring topflange, a motor disposed centrally in said casing, means extendinginward from said casing to support said motor, an upright mountingmember carried by said supporting means whereon the motor is demountablysecured, and a movable casing member spaced above said flange andslidably connected to said mounting member for vertical adjustment tovary its spacing with respect to said stationary casing member, saidmovable casing member having a substantially c lindrical flangeydisposed downwardly in te escopic relation to said mounting member andalso having an upstanding lug provided with locking or et means forengaging said mounting mem- 20. In a device of the character described,an annular casing member comprising a stationary part and a relativelymovable part held in variable spaced relation to said stationary partand formed and arranged to provide an air discharge aperture or nozzlebetween said parts. said stationary part having inwardly projectingsupport or mounting means whereon said movable part of the casing isadjustably slidable toward and away from said stationary part foradjusting said nozzle, and means adapted for manual control for lockingthe movable part to maintain its adjustment.

21. A humidifying device of the character l described, comprising anupright casing or shell of substantially cylindrical shape having ahumidii'ying chamber provided with a central inlet or opening in itslower part for the admission of air, and an annular discharge apertureor nozzle disposed peripherally at the top of said chamber, sprayproducing and air Vpropelling means adjacent to said inlet, and annularbaille means disposed above said spray producing and air propellingmeans for removing particles of liquid from the air as it passes upwardfor discharge through said nozzle.

22. A humidifying device of the character described, .comprising anupright casing or shell of substantially cylindrical shape having ahumidiying chamber provided with a central inlet or opening in its lowerpart for the admission of air, and annular discharge aperture or nozzledisposed peripherally at the top of said chamber, spray producing andair pro means adjacent to said inlet, and annular baille means disposedabove said spray producing and air ropelling means for removingparticles of liquid from the air as it passes upward for dischargethrough said nozzle, said baille means bring inclined upward toward orinto the passageway for the air current and being provided withapertures near their lower edges for the drainage of liquid collected bythe balles 23. An air propelling and humidfying device comprising acasing, having a longitudinal air passage, and air propelling meansdisposed coaxially therein, a medially positoned centrally apertureddiaphragm extending inward rom the wall of said casing, air sprayinmeans on one side of said diaphragm, an said casing having an air inletor aperture on the opposite side, and said casing having air outlets onopposite sides of said diaphragm. one being tween said inlet and saiddiaphragm, and said air propelling means includin a long armed fandisposed between the air inlet and the air outlet on one side of saiddiaphragm and a short armed fan between said diaphragm and the othersaid outlet.

24. A device of the character described, comprising a portable tank orreservoir, in com ination with air conditioning means rest-ing thereonand extending downward therein, said tank having lateral apeures abovethe water line for the admission of air, and said conditioning meansbeing adapted to urge the air upward centrally and discharge same underpressure, and comprisinga spray generator adapted to cleanse and molstenthe air moving upward past the Sam.

25. A device of the character described, comprising a tank open at thetop and apertured laterally for the admission of air, in combinationwith air conditioning means i having shoulders resting on the upper edgeof said tank and including a pump supported in the lower part of thedevice, spray producing means disposed medially in said device andcommunicating with said .0 pump, air discharge apertures below and abovesaid spray producing means, a centrally apertured guide member disposedbetween the lower aperture and said spray discharge means, fans forurging the air outward through said discharge apertures respectively,and a motor for driving said pump and fans.

Signed at Chicago this 10th day of March l I WILLARD M. McEWEN.

